HELENA — The eighth annual Montana Pride week kicked off on Sunday, July 17, 2022, in Helena, starting with a drag brunch with performers from across Montana, including Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, and Great Falls.
Julie Yard has been a drag performer for seven years with the Great Falls "Mister Sisters" and says Pride is about celebrating who you are with the other members of the LGBTQ+ community.
"It's just amazing. It's a celebration of who we are and where we come from and the fact that we're here and that we can celebrate so openly and just have a sense of community in a way that you just don't any other month or week or day of the year," said Yard.
Yard was first a spectator at drag shows in New York City, but once she moved to Montana, she joined the Electric City troop.
"I reached out just kind of out of the blue and said, 'Hey, I think I want to get into this. Can someone help me with my makeup and performing style and all of that?'" said Yard.
And performing brings her the most joy: "All of your inhibitions, you just let them go, it is very freeing, and it's just such a fun time. It is a unique blend of energy that you get from the performers from the audience, and it just yeah, it allows you to let go and be free," said Yard.
Participants in Montana Pride, formerly Big Sky Pride, are happy to be back in the Capital City and celebrate Pride in July.
"We're super excited about all the prides that have happened across the state. This is the last Pride of the year, and it's super fun. It's going to be massive fun this week," said Kev Hamm, director of Montana Pride.
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Pride events:
Monday July 18th
Queer Game Night at Headwaters Crafthouse at 7 pm
Tuesday July 19th
Myrna Loy Live Poetry Showcase at 7:30 pm;
Grandstreet Theatre Camp Instructors Cabaret at 7:30 pm
Wednesday July 20th
Drag Trivia at Lewis and Clark Brewery at 7:30 pm
Thursday July 21st
Prickly Pear Land Trust Summer Block Party at Downtown Walking Mall at 5 pm
Perfectly Queer Comedy Show at The Holter Museum at 6:30 pm
Friday July 22nd
Montana Pride CLE from 9 am - 1:30 pm,
Queer Ecology at Lewis and Clark Library at 3 pm
Welcome to Town at the Downtown Walking Mall from 3 pm until 7 pm,
Downdogs and Doobies at Sleeping Giant Gardens at 4:20 pm
Pride Hike and Picnic at Mount Helena Trailhead at 4:30 pm
Pride Shabbat at Gulch Distillery at 5 pm
Navigating the Queerverse at Lewis and Clark Libary at 5:30 until 7:30 pm
Potty Mouth Pottery at Painted Pot
Tacos and Tassels Burlesque Show at Space One11 at 7 pm and 9 pm
Queer Youth Prom at Holter Museum from 8 pm until Midnight
Shadow House Extravaganza at Rialto Bar, Western Bar, Miller's Crossing and the Windbag Saloon at 10 pm
Saturday July 23rd
2022 Montana Pride Parade at 11 am at the Gulch
Montana Pride Rally at Anchor Park at 12 pm
Drag Story Hour at Montana Book Co.
Montana Bears and Brews at Rialto Bar at 2 pm
DIY Pride Shirts 4 Kids at Holter Museum at 2 pm
Once More with Glitz at Downtown Walking Mall at 7 pm until sunset
Scatter and Groove at Rialto Bar, Miller's Crossing, Rialto Bar and the Windbag Saloon after downtown street dance
Queer Rodeo Dance Party at the Western
Sunday July 24th
Bottoms Up Downdogs and Draughts for Pride at Ten Mile Creek Brewery at 11 am
Recovery Caesar Bar at Western Bar
Recovery Brunch on the Walking Mall
